Cross-word-puzzle block



I Oct. 26, 1926.

1,604,127 G. LAMBERT CROSS WORD PUZZLE BLOCK Filed Sept. 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Za/P55 ,Z4/75557- ATTORNEY Oct. 26 1926. 1,604,127

G. LAMBERT cRoss WORD PUZZLE BLOCK Filed Sept. 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z 7' .0. 2/4 g /9 W Illlllllll INVENTOR /2 /5 6205-55 .a/75597 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. `26, 1926.

UNITED STATES Gnomz LAMBERT, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GROSS-WOBD-PUZZLE BLOCK.

pplicatlo'n filed September 25, 1925. Serial No. 58,569.

The 'invention relates to a set of crossword puzzle blocks. Q

The object of the invention 1s to produce a set of lettered blocks in which :the letters are arranged to form longitudinally and transversely extending words when the blocks are positioned according to ya glven design or pattern, so as thereby to provide a novel and improved form of entertainment and instruction. To this end the 1nvention consists in the set of cross-word puzzle blocks hereinafter described and particularlypointed out-in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan of a set of blocks arranged according to the in ventlon and shown enclosed in a box by which they may be conveniently handledand carried;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the two sliding covers of the box, showlngthereon four diagrams or patternsaccordlng to which the cross-words are to be formed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the trays in which the blocks may be removed from the box without disturbing the arrangement of the blocks;

.Figs 4 and 5 are plan views showlng other surfaces of the blocks;

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 66 of Fig. 7;

. Fig. 7 is an enlar ed bottom plan of the blocks shown in ig. 1 and Fig. 8 Vis a section taken along the line 8-4-8 of Fig. 7.

The set of cross-word puzzle blocks constituting the invention comprises a series of unit members or blocks arranged in a plurality of lon itudinally extending rows 10 and a plurality-of transversely extending rows 11. On each surface'of the blocks is placed a letter 12 or an ornament or design 13. The lettered blocks 12 and the ornamental blocks 13 are so arranged as to form a plurality of longitudinally extending and a plurality of transversely extending words, whether the rst and second, third and fourth, or fifth and sixth surfaces of the blocks are uppermost or lowermost, as' will-be present y explained. The

ornamental surfaces 13 are interposed4 at various points in the longitudinal andtransverse rows of words so as to presenta pleas` ing and-attractive design as well as to act as bounds or terminals forthe words.

In the arrangement of the set of crossword puzzle blocks shown in the drawings there are five longitudinally extending rows 10 and ve transversely extending'rows 11. Inasmuch as each block is a cube it possesses six surfaces. We may therefore have six upper and lower surfaces containing longitudinally and transversely extending words when the blocks are properly turned and arranged in a designated relationship one with another. For clarity of description and as an aid to understanding the invention, it is convenient to designate each of the six surfaces of the blocks as the rst and second, third and fourth and fifth and sixth surfaces. the corresponding surfaces, that is to` say, all the first and second, third and fourth, and so on, surfaces of all the blocks will always occupy the same relative position. Thus all the first and second surfaces will either be uppermost or lowermost, facing to the front (toward the bottom of the sheets), facing to the rear (toward the top of the sheets), facing to the right hand or facing to the left hand, and all the other surfaces will always occupy the same positions relativel to each other according to the way in whic all the blocks are turned. In the illustrated embodiment of thel invention, Fig. 1 shows the first surfaces of the'blocks uppermost. In Fig. 7 the second surfaces of theblocks are shown uppermost. By comparing Figs. 1 and 7, it will be understood that the second surfaces are lowermost in Fig. 1, and that in Fig. 7 the first surfaces are lowermost. In Fig. 4, the third surfaces are shown uppermost; and in Fig. 5 Vthe fourth surfaces are shown uppermost. It will be understood in comparing Figs. 4 and 5, that in Fig. 4 the fourth surfaces are lowermost; and conversely that in Fig. 5 the third surfaces are lowermost. The fifth surfaces of one row of blocks, facing the bottom of the sheets, are shown in Fig. 6; and the sixth surfaces of one row of blocks, facin the top of the sheets in Figs. 1 and 7, are s own in is a ready means of identifying the letters belonging to each surface of the set of blocks as a whole, the rst surfaces of the individual blocks are colored red, as indicated in Fig. 1; thesecond surfaces are colored blue, as indicated in Fig. 7; the third surfaces are colored green, as indicated in Eig.' 4; the fourth surfaces lare made black, as indicated in Fig. 5; the fth surfaces are In accordance with the invention all colored yellow, as indicated in Fig. 6; and the sixth surfaces are colored purple, as indicated in Fig. 8.

Each of the six surfaces ofthe set of blocks as a whole, has its particular kind of ornament '13. These ornaments, o f course,

t ticular set of blocks. For example, in

may be varied to suit the individual fancy. Appropriate ornaments are shown in the various figures. These ornaments take the place of spaces or blocks and define or limit the boundaries of the longitudinally and transversel extending words. To have a more pleasing effect the ornaments have the same color as the letters belonging to the same series of surfaces. A

The letters in each of the six surfaces of the set of blocks as a whole, are arranged to form longitudinally and transversel extending words, the ornamental blocks ing interposed at appropriate places to separate the two series of words. The arrangement of the various words longitudinally and transversely is optional. When, however,

a particular arrangement is determined' upon, that arrangement is fixed for any ar- 1 1 the longitudinally g Plays, lzEvery, and ..Brass; and the transversely extending words are: Lover, and Yards. The words on the second or lowermost surface, shown uppermost in Fig. 7, are, longitudinally: The, Amuse, and Set; and transversely Cat, House, and Pet. In like manner there are longitudinally and transversely extending words on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth surfaces.

If now all the blocks constituting the set of word making blocks shown in Fig. 1 are turned one quarter of a turn toward the top of the sheet, the third surface of the set of blocks will comev uppermost, as shown in Fig. 4, and the fourth surface of the set ofl 5g will be fth and blocks (shown uppermost in Fig.' lowermost. In like manner the sixth surfaces will be broughtup ermost and lowermost by next turning the locks a quarter turn either to the left hand or to the right hand. In each case the longitudinally and transversely extending words will appear uppermost or lowermost according to the direction in which the blocks are turned, it being understood that all the blocks are turned alike. The blocks are restored totheir initial position by turning them in the reverse directions.

It will be understood that there may be any preferred number of longitudinally and transversely extending rows Iof blocks constituting the set and therefore anypreferred number of longitudinally and transversely extending rows of words. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention there are five longitudinally extending and five transversely extending rows of blocks. The blocks are conveniently mounted and held extending words are:

in partitions' formed by the 4longitudinally a set of blocks may be carried. The open faces of the casing 17 are closed by the slide covers 19 and 2O which slide within lateral groves 2l in the sides of the frame or casing 17. Two covers are provided so that when the first, third and fifth surfaces are turned uppermost the second, fourth and sixth, or lowermost surfaces, may be brought uppermost and exposed to View by turning the box upside down and removing the cover 20, thereby halving the work in turning the blocks to bring the cross words into view. Means are provided for removing the blocks as a whole from the box 17 so that they can he more conveniently handled individually consisting of thetwo trays 24 and 25, inverted over the blocks under the covers 19 and 20, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 8. The tray'19 is shown in perspective in Fig. 3. To facilitate the handling of the trays the bottoms 26 thereof are provided with the two linger holes- 27 .y

In' order that additional cross-words may be formed, extra lettered blocks are provided and conveniently carried in the external longitudinal and transverse rows 28 surrounding` the cross-word puzzle set of blocks of the cover 19 and 20, as indicated in Fig 2.

It will be fully understood from Figs. 1 and 7 that the letters are so arranged on the blocks that when the blocks are set up to form cross-words reading at one face of the set-up blocks, different crosswords will be found at the other face of the set-up blocks.

It will also be understood that the frame 17 and the intersecting strips 15 and 16 provide llongitudinal and transverse rows of pockets in the frame in which the blocks may be set to form words, reading differently at the different faces of the frame. So lthat the invention is basic enough to infclude cross-word blocks, the letters of which are previous] so calculatedby the manufacturer that di erent words will be formed at the opposite faces of the set-up blocks whether or not the set-up blocks are placed in a frame.

What I claim as m- -invention and desire to secure by Letters atent, is:

1. A set of cross-word puzzle blocks adapted to be arranged in a plurality of lon itudinal and transverse rows, some of t e Surfaces of said blocks being each provided with a letter and the remaining surfaces beingeaeh provided.Y with an ornament, whereby the blocks may be so arranged that the letters form longitudinally and transversely extending words or legends, whether the rst and second, third and fourth, or fifth and sixth surfaces of the blocks are lowermost or uppermost and the ornaments may be symmetrically arranged to separate the words or legends appearing on any one line. 2. A set of cross-word puzzle blocks adapted to be arranged in a plurality of longitudinal and transverse rows, some of the surfaces of said blocks being each provided with a letter and the remaining surfaces being each provided with an ornament, whereby said blocks may be so arranged that the letters on the upper and lower sur-faces form dierent sets of lon itudinally and transversely extending wor and said upper and lower surfaces being readily distinguishable from one another.

3. A ypuzzle of the character described comprising a plurality of unit-members having suitable indicia on their opposite surfaces, some of the indicia being letters and others being ornaments and said opposite surfaces being distinguishable from one another, said unit-members being capable of arrangement in rectangular formation of a plurality of transverse rows so that the letters form diferentsets of cross-words and legends on opposite surfaces of the rectangular formation, and the ornaments serving to fill in blank spaces and to separate words appearing in any one row.

In testimony whereof l. hereunto affix my signature.

GEORGE LAMBERT. 

